Creative techniques to strategically attract audiences.

Why Market Research is So Valuable

Do you remember how cool Crystal Pepsi was in the early 1990s? No one does… because it wasn’t.

Despite the company’s attempt to make their product sound cool and healthy, it fizzed faster than the foam on your glass of soda.

You might have a product or service you want to launch. However, you probably don’t have Pepsi’s budget, so you can’t really afford for your brand launch to flop. The best way to determine whether your new business venture is a good idea or not, is to study your target market. Knowing what makes people tick is as important as the quality of your product.

1- Is there a market for what you have to offer?

You may have come up with a creative way to brew starfruit beer, or you may be an expert at fixing original Atari consoles; but if nobody’s interested in either idea, it won’t make sense to invest money, time, nor resources into those businesses.

2- If there is a market, why would they need your product?

OK, so let’s say Generation X kids do want to fix their Ataris. Nostalgia is a powerful thing, you know.

Do they want additional forms of entertainment? Do they have a void that only going down memory lane is going to fill? What, exactly is Xbox failing to provide that would make bringing back this console from yesteryear a hit?

Prioritize understanding their point of view. If you can provide exactly what they’re looking for, you’ll have customers eating right out of your hand.

3- Is there anything your competitors are not providing?

Think about your product launch as training for a marathon. You wouldn’t just show up at the start line and run 26.2 miles just because you happen to like tennis shoes. You have to train properly and eat well to maximize your performance.

The same concept applies to marketing. Place some effort into your preparatory tasks so that when that shot goes off, you are able to hit the track running.

Alex Rodríguez develops high-end digital marketing campaigns that transform brands and attract business. He is the author of Digital BACON. His clientele has run the gamut from top-level advertising agencies and Fortune500 corporations, through national broadcast networks, to award-winning production firms. He heads up the team at YMMY Marketing. Connect with Alex via LinkedIn or Twitter